RP:The Witches of Change

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Location: Edge of the Eternal forest.

Synopsis: In the aftermath of Kahrans attack and Valraes curse, Pilar and Umeko stumble across Eirik near an oak tree. Its a place where he had finished burying witches. Obviously the duo start of with animosity towards Eirik, but in the end - that changes. Witch side are YOU on?

Edge of the Eternal Forest

Eirik sits near an oak tree, with an open bottle of whiskey clutched in his hands. Leaned up against the tree is a shovel, which also sits next to a pile of rocks. For all intents and purposes Eirik looks like a mess. Covered in dirt, and physically exhausted. Had he been sleeping? Just before him is an area that had been magically crafted by the druid Cadence. It’s a plot of colorful flowers and rich soil; a memorial which she had helped him with. Eirik preferred to relax in his thoughts here instead of dealing with the swarm of people just to the south. There is much on his mind and as much present within those silver eyes which stare into the brown glass of his bottle. The Lycan, oddly isn't wearing his armor, nor does he have either of his weapons - save for that shovel. He still couldn't peel the curse from his mind.

Word had reached Chartsend via carrier owl to one of the witches that had moved there from Larket. The witch, Umeko, had gone to Pilar and begged for assistance in returning so she could help. Not one to turn down such a plea, Pilar agreed, and so the two flew to Larket on couatlback, the winged serpent a dark blue streak in the sky. They landed in the woods west of the Hard City and began to walk the rest of the way. They were almost there when they stumbled upon Eirik moping by a tree. Pilar took Umeko's hand, a move that confused the witch. She didn't recognize Eirik.

Eirik gives off a sigh and raises that bottle to his lips, still thinking about the witches he had spent all day burying here with Cadence. The evidence of that fiasco written upon his soot ridden appearance. It's only after he snags a few pulls from that bottle does he notice Pilar and Umeko. Great, another thing to just pile on him. But Eiriks eyes are puffy and he's too lazy to get up and move from here. Instead he will take whatever heat Pilar throws at him in stride. Two people yelling at him were better than a dozen. "If you're headed through, careful where you step." His hand idly points to the spot on the ground that has been previously mentioned. "I've given them a burial." The Northmans tone of voice is still filled with sorrow, not one of its usual fiery rasp.

Pilar looked out over the field, brows furrowed. "Buried who?" She assumed guards or civilians, not witches. But Umeko could read the language of flowers, and saw the answer. Witch hazel was everywhere. "My sisters..." she murmured. Pilar glanced at her, then back to Eirik. "Why?"

Eirik doesn't know how to answer Pilars question. There is a huge mixture of feelings involved in his thoughts behind it. Valraes curse was literally kicking the pants off of Eiriks inner hatred towards witches. In the end, even though captured, she had won. The berserker is drifting away from such atrocious thoughts because she had gifted him with empathy. Empathy for all of those here. Every witch he had ever hurt. A hand reaches up to wipe the tiredness from his visage. "Because it was the right thing to do." Did he really just say that?

"Of course it was... But that's not why you did it." At least, it wasn't the whole truth. "How many of them died by your hand, Eirik?" Pilar asked. She felt Umeko tense beside her. "Ei-Eirik? As in...?" Pilar held Umeko's hand tightly, eyes still locked on the lycan. "Yes." Umeko's face went from shock to rage in the blink of an eye. She turned to Eirik and pointed a finger. Roots sprouted from the ground to ensnare him, but Pilar put her free hand on Umeko's arm. "Don't." The witch looked to Pilar, tears in her eyes. "Hanna was my friend. She was my friend, and he...!" "I know. But I can't let you become a killer, too." Umeko sniffled and her hand shook.

Eirik didn't even have to think about Pilars question which was supposed to be offensive; the truth hurts sometimes. "Not why I did what?" He sets the bottle down, not even caring for the attack that Umeko had just attempted. Not that he wasn't threatened, but more so because it just didn't matter. Without even giving voice to the number Eirik announces the number three within his mind. He knew all of their last moments. He had been granted their emotions. Their turmoil's and inner strife. "Hanna's been gone for some time now. Though her memory is still fresh in here." He points a calloused finger towards his head. It's unfortunate the things he's going through. Unfortunate for him, fortunate for others. "If she were here, I would have given her one too." That’s the truth of it. "And that is why I did it." Eirik wouldn't voice anymore about his reasonings to Pilar. Valraes curse didn't force him to bury those who died that night. Some by Eirik, some by Kahran and some by others.

Pilar considered Eirik carefully while Umeko shook in her arms. "... What changed? Why do you care now? What -happened-?" Pilar rubbed Umeko's back as the witch hiccuped.

Eirik wanted to shrug his shoulders. He couldn't explain it. He couldn't grasp the entire concept of a spell she had cast, but he would do his best to voice what he knew how to. "Valrae." Eyes move back to the bottle he carried. "Valrae cursed me. I suppose that's what you would call it." He thinks upon it further, but again finds his mind awash in the emotions of all those who had been through this atrocious camp. A place where he began mistreating witches for information. He closes his eyes for a moment and leans his head against the tree. "Their emotions are so vivid." It's a break in the conversation. A beat that almost veers the conversation off course. "Valrae hit me with some sort of empathy spell, that forced me to go through everything the witches here have." Finally he goes silent.

Pilar should have known it would take magic to see him change his ways. But did this mean he had REALLY changed his ways? If the curse was broken, would he go back to how he was? She looked out at the graveyard again. "... Do you know who's buried where? We should get headstones for them. Or maybe a monument. Or both." Umeko wiped her eyes. "A crystal statue... To protect it..." she offered.

Eirik is such a stubborn man that of course it would have taken magic to teach this old dog new tricks. Tricks that he should have learned eons ago. Though his own storied history acted a barrier to prevent such a change. "I actually planned on having something made to mark the sight. And yes," a hand points to his head once again. "I have all of their names." Eirik felt sick yet again. With himself, not the two before him.

Umeko looked at Eirik with sad eyes. "Onyx... For protection. To keep this area safe from those who'd defile it," she said. "A cat... We witches love black cats..." Pilar regarded Eirik for a long time. She knew the pain of regret, especially the kind that comes from empathy and grief. "That's good. Okay. I... I'll talk to their families. Find out what they might want for markers."

Eirik gives a nod to Pilar and Umeko. "Thank you." He didn't know what else to say. Instead, he grasps the bottle again. "I'll be around the camp, working on cleaning things up if you should find out what they would want."

Pilar and Umeko started to leave when the witch stopped and turned. "If you're really sorry... Truly sorry... There's something I'd ask of you." Her hand curled into a fist. "Fight for us. Fight like hell for the ones that are left. Do all in your power to see that not another drop of witch blood is spilled. Do this for Hanna, and all the witches you've buried."

Eirik looks to Umeko with pain in his eyes. The bottle of whiskey he carried pauses mid-air, just before it would meet his lips. She too was a witch, one that a few he had put here, knew of. He stifles back those terrible thoughts. She was taking advantage of the situation; of Eiriks loss of self-control. His new-found empathy towards all of those found here. "I.." he pauses, setting the bottle down and coming to a stand. If Eirik had been good at anything, it was fighting. Why not protect something for once? "I will." It looked like he was on the witch's side. For his own reasons. Silver eyes shift to the distance, thinking upon those last two words he had uttered. Just three days ago, his response would have been very different.